Contemporary Epidemiology of and Risk Factors Associated with Removal of a Pathologically Normal Appendix in Children with Suspected Appendicitis

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to characterize contemporary performance benchmarks and risk factors associated with negative appendectomy (NA) in children with suspected appendicitis.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort analysis of children undergoing appendectomy for suspected appendicitis was performed using data from the 2016–2021 NSQIP-Pediatric Appendectomy Targeted Public Use Files. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the influence of year, age, sex, and WBC count on NA rate, and to generate rate estimates for NA based on different combinations of demographic characteristics and WBC profiles.Results100,322 patients were included from 140 hospitals. The overall NA rate was 2.4%, and rates decreased significantly during the study period (2016: 3.1% vs. 2021: 2.3%, p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, the highest risk for NA was associated with a normal WBC (<9000/mm³; OR 5.31 [95% CI: 4.87–5.80]), followed by female sex (OR 1.55 [95% CI: 1.42–1.68]) and age <5 years (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.39, 1.94]). Model-estimated risk for NA varied significantly across demographic and WBC strata, with a 14.4-fold range in rates between subgroups with the lowest and highest predicted risk (males 13–17 years with elevated WBC [1.1%] vs. females 3–4 years with normal WBC [15.8%]).ConclusionsContemporary NA rates have decreased over time, however NA risk remains high in children without a leukocytosis, particularly for girls and children <5 years of age. These data provide contemporary performance benchmarks for NA in children with suspected appendicitis and identify high-risk populations where further efforts to mitigate NA risk should be targeted.Level of EvidenceIII.     

经9次核酸检测终确诊的新型冠状病毒肺炎患者1例分析

目前新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)疫情在全球蔓延,形势严峻,并对全球公共卫生事业构成巨大挑战,快速准确的诊断COVID-19对疫情的防控有重要意义。本文报道1例COVID-19患者的调查和确诊过程,以对COVID-19确诊和疫情防控提供有价值的参考。患者为赴渝务工于2020年1月23日返乡人员,在渝期间,其同工地的一同事确诊为COVID-19,之后该工地接连有另外8位同事被确诊。患者返乡后2月2日被当地疫情防控单位采取医学隔离。患者于隔离后不久出现咳嗽,阵发性,干咳为主,偶可咳出黄色痰液等COVID-19相关临床症状,遂被当地新型冠状病毒肺炎定点医疗单位收治,后经市级新型冠状病毒肺炎诊治专家组远程视频会诊转入四川大学华西医院资阳医院。患者先后经历9次核酸检测,在前8次核酸检测均为阴性的情况下,于第9次核酸检测结果为阳性,2月21日最终确诊为新型冠状病毒肺炎。     

Sample size re-estimation for clinical trials with longitudinal negative binomial counts including time trends

In some diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, lesion counts obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used as markers of disease progression. This leads to longitudinal, and typically overdispersed, count data outcomes in clinical trials. Models for such data invariably include a number of nuisance parameters, which can be difficult to specify at the planning stage, leading to considerable uncertainty in sample size specification. Consequently, blinded sample size re-estimation procedures are used, allowing for an adjustment of the sample size within an ongoing trial by estimating relevant nuisance parameters at an interim point, without compromising trial integrity. To date, the methods available for re-estimation have required an assumption that the mean count is time-constant within patients. We propose a new modeling approach that maintains the advantages of established procedures but allows for general underlying and treatment-specific time trends in the mean response. A simulation study is conducted to assess the effectiveness of blinded sample size re-estimation methods over fixed designs. Sample sizes attained through blinded sample size re-estimation procedures are shown to maintain the desired study power without inflating the Type I error rate and the procedure is demonstrated on MRI data from a recent study in multiple sclerosis.     

中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值对三阴性乳腺癌临床预后及与Ki - 67表达的影响

目的 探讨中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值（neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio，NLR）对三阴性乳腺癌的临床预后影响及与Ki - 67表达的关系。方法 回顾性分析2006年1月 - 2012年12月于我院乳腺外科住院治疗的134例三阴性乳腺癌患者。NLR最佳临床分界值采用ROC曲线确定，并依此分NLR＜2.64组和NLR≥2.64组。临床独立预后因素采用单因素和多因素Cox回归模型分析。术后生存时间和生存曲线比较采用Kaplan - Meier和log - rank方法。Ki - 67的表达采用免疫组织化学方法检测。结果 NLR是三阴性乳腺癌的独立预后因素，最佳临界值为2.64。NLR＜2.64组术后中位DFS为39.10月，中位OS为52.30月；NLR≥2.64组术后中位DFS为27.35月，中位OS为37.35月。2组术后DFS和OS比较，差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。NLR低组伴Ki - 67表达阴性的三阴性患者术后中位DFS和OS生存时间显著高于其他情况。结论 NLR是三阴性乳腺癌的关键影响预后因素，具有重复性强、非侵袭性、方便实用等特性，可用于预测三阴性乳腺癌临床预后。     

Carboxylesterase catalyzed 18O-labeling of carboxylic acid and its potential application in LC-MS/MS based quantification of drug metabolites

LC-MS quantification of drug metabolites is sometimes impeded by the availability of internal standards that often requires customized synthesis and/or extensive purification. Although isotopically labeled internal standards are considered ideal for LC-MS/MS based quantification, de novo synthesis using costly isotope-enriched starting materials makes it impractical for early stage of drug discovery. Therefore, quick access to these isotope-enriched compounds without chemical derivatization and purification will greatly facilitate LC-MS/MS based quantification. Herein, we report a novel ¹⁸O-labeling technique using metabolizing enzyme carboxylesterase (CES) and its potential application in metabolites quantification study. Substrates of CES typically undergo a two-step oxygen exchange with H₂¹⁸O in the presence of the enzyme, generating singly- and doubly-¹⁸O-labeled carboxylic acids; however, unexpected hydrolytic behavior was observed for three of the test compounds – indomethacin, piperacillin and clopidogrel. These unusual observations led to the discovery of several novel hydrolytic mechanisms. Finally, when used as internal standard for LC-MS/MS based quantification, these in situ labeled compounds generated accurate quantitation comparable to the conventional standard curve method. The preliminary results suggest that this method has potential to eliminate laborious chemical synthesis of isotope-labeled internal standards for carboxylic acid-containing compounds, and can be developed to facilitate quantitative analysis in early-stage drug discovery.     

Wound conditioning by vacuum assisted closure (V.A.C.) in postoperative infections after dorsal spine surgery

The use of vacuum assisted closure (V.A.C.) therapy in postoperative infections after dorsal spinal surgery was studied retrospectively. Successful treatment was defined as a stable healed wound that showed no signs of acute or chronic infection. The treatment of the infected back wounds consisted of repeated debridement, irrigation and open wound treatment with temporary closure by V.A.C. The instrumentation was exchanged or removed if necessary. Fifteen patients with deep subfascial infections after posterior spinal surgery were treated. The implants were exchanged in seven cases, removed completely in five cases and left without changing in one case. In two cases spinal surgery consisted of laminectomy without instrumentation. In two cases only the wound defects were closed by muscle flap, the remaining ones were closed by delayed suturing. Antibiotic treatment was necessary in all cases. Follow up was possible in 14 patients. One patient showed a new infection after treatment. The study illustrates the usefulness of V.A.C. therapy as a new alternative management for wound conditioning of complex back wounds after deep subfascial infection.     

928株革兰阴性杆菌耐药性监测

目的：了解青岛地区临床分离的重要革兰阴性杆菌的耐药情况以指导合理用药。方法：2001年青岛3家医院临床分离的5种革兰阴性杆菌用Kirby-Bauer法进行药敏试验。结果：5种病原菌均占3家医院革兰阴性杆菌分离率的前5位，大肠埃希菌对氟喹诺酮类药物的耐药率达60％－87％，细菌对亚胺培南均呈高度敏感，但铜绿假单胞菌耐亚胺培南株占25．8％，头孢他啶的抗菌活性是三代头孢菌素中最高的；复方酶抑制剂表现出良好的抗菌活性。结论：细菌耐药问题仍是目前临床的严重问题，地域性的耐药性监测是必要的。     

美哌隆对麻醉的正常血压大鼠的降压作用

我们用麻醉的正常血压大鼠,大鼠的自体灌液后肢分别研究了美哌隆的降压作用强度、部位、维持时间和对心率的影响。实验结果提示:美哌隆降低动脉血压的作用除依赖于它对外周α_1受体的选择性阻滞外,还依赖于它对外周阻力血管的直接扩张作用。美哌隆在降压的同时也减慢心率,其降压作用和负性频率作用与剂量有关。